Mr. Therm Balcony Railings – Oxford, England - Atlas Obscura
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Mr. Therm Balcony Railings

Oxford, England

An obsolete, long-forgotten advertising character lingers on this Sainsbury’s balcony railings.  

Mr Therm Balcony Railings View all photos
Mr Therm is still alive in Oxford. Fred Cherrygarden (Atlas Obscura User)
Mr Therm Balcony Railings
Left: Mr Therm is still alive in Oxford. Fred Cherrygarden (Atlas Obscura User)
Right: Look carefully. Fred Cherrygarden (Atlas Obscura User)
Mr Therm Balcony Railings
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In 1933, the Gas Light and Coke Company of London introduced a character called Mr. Therm for its advertisements. Designed by illustrator Eric Fraser, he was a whimsical entity with a paper-thin body and a head shaped like a blazing sun.

Though the company was nationalized in 1949 and went defunct, Mr Therm continued to be featured in many a poster and TV commercial until the 1950s, before falling into obscurity.

Even today, he can still be found in Oxford, lingering and hiding in plain sight. Currently a Sainsbury’s, this building at 117-119 St Aldate’s Street was built in 1938 for the Oxford & District Gas Company Offices and used as a showroom until the 1990s. There, on the balcony are railings in the shape of Mr Therm, a small detail of a ghost sign that is not quite noticeable and hard to recognize even if it catches your eye.

Know Before You Go

Note on edit: in British English “Mr” is used instead of “Mr.” – so the correct name of the character would be “Mr Therm” and not “Mr. Therm.”

advertising design history & culture
Community Contributors
Fred Cherrygarden
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Fred Cherrygarden
Published
April 24, 2024
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Nearby
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